As I pen this blog the snow just keeps on falling and falling. While the whole outside scene is quite picturesque I for one breathe a sigh of relief that January will soon be but a memory!! It has seemed long :)

Before Christmas I posted a recipe for Sand Art Brownies that I had made in mason jars for gifts. I recently found a twist on this same idea called Sand Art Cookies. I posted a picture of the unusual packaging for these sand art cookies I purchased at bake sale. The ingredients were layered in a triangular cone shape piece. With Valentine's Day just around the corner perhaps you might be looking for an easy gift idea. If you use a quart mason jar try adding a red ribbon around the mouth of the jar and then attach the recipe card and baking instructions to it.

Sand Art Cookies

adapted from allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup quick rolled oats

3/4 cup baking M & M's

1/2 cup brown sugar

1-1/4 cups flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup crisp rice cereal

1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Layer ingredients in a quart jar in the following order above-but note: that the baking powder and salt should be mixed into flour mixture before layering it

Saturday, January 29, 2011

According to Wikipedia a polar bear plunge is an event held during winter where participants enter a body of water despite low temperatures usually to raise money for charitable organizations.Many of these Polar Bear events are held throughout the US as well as Canada and other countries. FYI: Maryland can boast about having the Plungapolooza, which is the largest Polar Bear plunge eventin the US with over some 12,000 participants raising well over 2 million dollars for Special Olympics.But really I think it just as noteworthy when some local residents plunged into the frigid lake waters of northern Minnesota for the Polar Bear Plunge. Be aware that the outside temperatures hovered around 14 degrees and a water temperature at 34. But for the end of January in northern Minnesota this is considered a balmy temperature. Wonder what the temperature is like in Maryland???I was in awe watching teams of people wearing only their summer swimming attire take the plunge into the lake. The proceeds from this event went to support the work of a medical clinic in the local community.Enjoy the photos :)

Friday, January 28, 2011

"Cobalt and umber and ultramarineIvory black and emerald green-What shall I paint to give pleasure to you?""Paint for me somebody utterly new."first stanza from poem The Paint Boxby E.V. Rieu

Depending on where you live, mid January often lacks those springtime colors we yearn for this time of the year. So as I took a walk in the snowy Northwoods I decided there must be some way to infuse a bit of color into the day. I looked over some of my resources and thought posting these photos that showed a pop of color might be a good day brightener.Each of the following recipes have a pop of color and are quite appealing when served. Oh..and I need to mention the best part is each recipe is heart healthy without sacrificing any taste._______________________________________________________________________________________

Sweet and Spicy Chicken Stir-Fryadapted from Woman's Day magazine February 2011

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

This object is usually round with holes and attaches to something using thread?

The Button.

This word is derived from the French bouton meaning anything round -such as a bud or knob.

All this button thinking started with a small book I recently discovered on the history of buttons. Now I am aware this isn't exactly a gripping topic but there really is a lot of history associated with them. Plus think of all the clever things people make using buttons. One of my favorite images of brass buttons comes from the story Peter Rabbit. Remember how Peter narrowly escapes out of Mr. McGregor's garden but leaves behind his blue jacket with a missing brass button in the gooseberry net?

For some, buttons remain a source of intrigue and fascination. They are objects to be pursued and hoarded and collected like gems or gold. Buttons have a long history dating back to prehistoric times. Though buttons were used for thousands of years, the buttonhole was not invented until sometime in the 13th century. It is thought that buttons may have been brought to Europe from the Middle East by knights returning as Crusaders. Buttons through the ages have been made from a variety of materials including wood, bone, brass, pewter, gold, plastic, silver, ivory, tortoiseshell and horns.

Some interesting trivia I came across as I looked delved more into the history of buttons

There does exist a National Button Society with more than 3,000 members on 4 continents with 39 of the 50 states representing state and local chapters. If you go online your search will let you know if there is a Button Chapter in your area. Membership is always open!

The National Button Convention will be held this summer in Grand Rapids, MI

Between 1840-1950 hotel bellboys and pages were commonly referred to as Buttons, no doubt for all their buttons on their uniforms.

There is an island in Hingham, MA called Button Island. This is the only island in the world named for a button.

Button is actually a proper name, though not very popular in America. But one of the most famous American to have the name was Button Gwinnet, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

The first buttons made in the US were made of metal in 1750. These brass buttons were manufactured in PA.

The Chinese used to wear five buttons on their coat as symbols of the five principal virtues: Justice, Humanity, Order, Prudence, and Rectitude.

In World War I, the British Army used 367 different kinds of buttons on a variety of garments. Buttons were considered so important that the Army spent $500,000 per year just for the paste to polish the buttons.

According to fashion historians the reason men have buttons on the right side of shirt dates back to the 15th century. It is easier for for most people to dress themselves from right to left.

Women's clothing have buttons on the left because those who could afford expensive buttons in the 5 th century had dressing servants. These maids being mostly right handed had to fasten their mistresses' garments found task easier if buttons were on the left. Tailors complied and the convention has never been altered.

As a man is judged

by the company he keeps,

so a garment is judged by

the buttons you find on it.

Anonymous

Biographies are but the clothes

and buttons of the man-

the biography of the man himself

can not be written.

Mark Twain

Information sources Internet and The Button Book by Diana Epstein

Citrus Salad-serves 10 Note: this is a salad recipe previously posted with some revisions

Ingredients:

½ pink grapefruit –peeled and sectioned

2-3 oranges peeled and sectioned (pat dry on paper towel)

½ cucumber sliced into halves

1 ½ cups walnuts

1 large of spinach /mixed greens

½ red onion-sliced and separated into rings

1 cup toasted coconut-optional

½ package Fresh Gourmet Wonton Strips (found in produce)

Directions: In a large bowl toss all ingredients

Toast coconut on a cookie sheet

To serve: toss salad mixture with prepared dressing just enough to moisten and sprinkle with coconut, nuts

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Today's featured poem on writersalmanacpublicradio.org is Three Perfect Days by Linda Pastan. The poem speaks to the writer's experience about reading an in flight magazine on a plane about three perfect days somewhere. Linda Pastan poem speaks to how she would settle for one perfect day somewhere without mosquitoes, traffic and newspaper headlines.

So... have you ever thought about how you might spend a perfect day? For me part of the day would be reading to get through that ever rising and never ending pile of books and magazines. Today as I sorted through some titles I have some recommends for you just in case you might consider skipping work one day to catch up on your reading.

Look Me in the Eye by John Elder Robison is a moving memoir about a man who was not diagnosed with Aspergers till his forties. He shares his perception what it is like to live with this syndrome. His life story is rather amazing in the sense he grew up in a dysfunctional family but still managed to find his niche in life designing innovative sound systems and effects for rock and roll bands, developing electronic games for Milton Bradley and fixing high end cars. Besides learning about his life the book could be considered a teaching tool for mental health educators.

Susan Vreeland's five previous novels explore a variety of art related themes. I particularly liked Girl in Hyacinth Blue and Luncheon of the Boating Party. Her newest book Clara and Mr. Tiffany is a fascinating read of Clara Driscoll, the creative impetus behind the iconic Tiffany lamps. The book follows her story for 15 years beginning in 1890. The reader is given a glimpse of what life was like for the Tiffany girls who labored in the workrooms of New York creating lamps and windows.

_____________________________________________________________________

Need a jump start to your day? Then this is just the recipe for you. It has spice, flavor and lots of kick! I have noted some modifications.

An interesting writing link is Tim Rundquist's Jan 19th blog posting: January Silence. It can be found at www.lakeregionwriters.net. This piece exemplifies two key ingredients in quality writing. The first is the ability to perceive with all one's senses everything that is happening at a particular moment. The second ingredient is the importance of silence. Check it out and try writing your own piece about silence.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Edison held a world record of 1093 patents for inventions. It has been said he thought the phonograph (1877) was his favorite invention but the light bulb is considered by many to be his greatest invention.

Edison purchased over 13 acres along the Caloosahatchee River in 1885 at Ft. Myers, Florida. It was here that he created an estate that included two homes and a laboratory. In 1916 his good friend Henry Ford, purchased the estate next to his property called The Mangoes. Edison after years of studying natural materials that produced latex, began to plant hundreds of varieties of trees and plants. The native India Banyan Tree on the property today was a gift from the tire industrialist Harvey Firestone in 1925. At the time of the planting the tree was 4 feet high. Today it is an acre in diameter and has some 350 roots. I posted some pictures taken on the Edison estate.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Quotes by a famous inventorTo invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.I have respect for the fellow with a single idea who gets there than for the fellow with a thousand ideas who does nothing.Of all my inventions, I like the phonograph the best.A man's best friend is a good wife.

Only a few quotes from a well learned self taught man. His accomplishments are many. To find out his name check back on Monday's blog for answer.Also coming on Monday several new Mexican main dish and salad recipes. And some yummy salsa dishes to go with them.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

I don't mean the Midwest. I happen to be visiting one of the only states in US that currently is not experiencing any measurable snowfall. Can you guess? And its not Hawaii but Florida!Today the temperatures here have dropped quite a bit and believe it or not the 30's seem cold. So not quite ready to hit the beach in shorts just yet. Will keep you posted.

www.writersalmanac.org is an interesting site I recently heard about.

The Writer's Almanac Newsletter showcases poems, prose and literary history from Garrison Keillor. It is a free subscription that comes directly to your inbox each day. In addition subscribers can search for any poems by titles or authors.

Check it out. Fun to listen to Garrison read each day a selected poem of his choosing.

A chilly, snowy day in January doesn't seem so bad when served a bowl of warm, tasty and nourishing soup. Recently I was lucky to have lunch at a friend's house and she served Sirloin Vegetable Soup. It was the perfect meal for the day and she graciously supplied the recipe which is posted at the end of this blog.

It got me thinking about silly poems and ones written about soup. Have you heard the poem above by Lewis Carroll Beautiful Soup? I have also seen it titled Turtle Soup. I love the poem for its repetition of words and sounds. Lewis Carroll was the pen name for Charles Lutwidge Dodgson. He mastered the genre of literary nonsense. Not only is he known for poems with nonsensical lyrics but also the story Alice in Wonderland which truly made him famous. But few know that he also was a church deacon and mathematician. As I was doing a bit of sleuthing on the Internet I found a wonderful reading on the You Tube site of this poem Beautiful Soup by Nigel Planer. You can get to this site by going to Lewis Carroll You Tube and this site also has a reading of his famous poem Jabberwocky.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

It seems one of my relatives went on a rescue mission recently to find adoptive homes for two sock monkeys who had been residents of the Red Heel Monkey Shelter. Refer to blog posting Dec. 17th Sock Monkey Attire for more specific information on the shelter.

This young sock monkey (see photo posted) was delivered to our house three days ago. We found him to be packaged quite carefully and in good spirits. Though he did travel lightly (meaning few possessions) and came with a booklet of care instructions. I am told that all sock monkey residents who leave the shelter come with their own care booklet for their newly adopted parents. The booklet of care instructions (like an owner's manual) covers suggestions on how to help sock monkey adjust to life outside the shelter. It includes tips on how to help with separation anxiety issues, socialization with new siblings, and entertainment issues.

My relative was quite aware of our ever expanding sock monkey family. She figured this sock monkey would have few adjustment problems here and enjoy the company of so many siblings. The other sock monkey was being sent to a home where there were no other siblings just a young boy quite eager to have a new playmate.

I have posted a picture of this ever expanding sock monkey family and our newest member who is seated on the right wearing a red Santa hat.

We received adoption papers and just need to choose a name and to send the certificate back to be notarized and filed.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

There is something rather invigorating about a starting a new year. Since winter has us all in a tight grasp perhaps this might be just the time to rejuvenate our spirits. We can use these winter months when we are in more than out to try something we have always been wanting to do, try a new recipe, discover a new restaurant or place in the city, reconnect up with old friends, spend more time reading, reorganize a room/drawer/closet, write a note to a friend, help a neighbor and yes...the list can go on and on with all sorts of possibilities. But the biggest challenge always remains finding the time to do it.

To make life a bit easier I have some suggestions and recommends.

The King' Speech, is a superb movie about the life of a reluctant King George The Sixth, who overcame a stuttering problem. He was the father of the present Queen Elizabeth. It was just mesmerizing to watch such a well crafted movie with marvelous actors.

The Fighter is a emotional movie about the boxing saga of the early days of welterweight champion "Irish" Micky Ward. It tells Ward's story and his relationship with the brother who helped train him. The performances are great and even if you are not into the boxing scene the story will captivate you watching the rise of an underdog.

Knit the Season by Kate Jacobs is the fourth novel in the series Friday Night Knitting Club. This book brings back the characters who formed a close friendship meeting each week at a cozy yarn shop on Manhattan's Upper Side Walker and Daughter on Friday nights. In this new installment with the holidays approaching the women have even more reason to celebrate with a special New Year's Day wedding on the horizon.

I was curious after reading all these books in the series if indeed there was a real shop on Upper West Side called Walker and Daughter. So after some GOOGLE sleuthing I find this whole website devoted to Friday Night Knitting Club. Check it out and see for yourself if this shop does indeed exist.

Lastly, I found this interesting recipe made with beer from Cooking Light magazine January/February 2011 issue that was quite tasty. Try and see for yourself

Saturday, January 1, 2011

No I am not referring to Fergie's musical group. I mean the black-eyed peas that are a traditional popular southern fare served on New Year's Eve or Day since Civil War times.

They are a symbol of good luck, fortune and prosperity. The peas represent coins and the greens they are served with represent foldin' money. The peas swell when cooking which means an increase in your fortunes. Eating humble food such as peas shows you are worthy of good fortune. The most popular black-eyed peas dish served is Hoppin' John Black-Eyed Peas and Rice.

Below you will find a recipe you might want to consider trying. Besides increasing the chance for good luck these peas are for healthier eating (just in case that was one of your New Year's resolutions) since they contain lots of protein with other nutrients such as calcium, iron and potassium.

_____________________________________________________________________

recipe adapted from several sources

this one can be made in a slow cooker

Hoppin' John

Ingredients:

2 cans black-eyed peas, drained or one small package of peas that have been cooked and drained

About Me

I am ever ready to try new activities, explore different regions, and willing to take on challenges. I have a elementary and middle school teaching background. Over the years I have presented workshops to teachers on literature, creative writing, and science. Some of my special interests include; writing, poetry, picture books, reading biographies, trying new recipes, traveling to new places, being at the lake, but most of all enjoying time with my family and friends.